THE top eight is no closer to being finalised after the Northern Blues and North Ballarat Roosters failed to sew up a finals berth today.
The Roosters fell to an impressive Williamstown outfit, while the Blues were thrashed by Werribee, leaving both outside the eight with just one round remaining.
Box Hill Hawks proved a class above Coburg in the other of today's games.
Seagulls overrun Roosters
Williamstown has dealt the top eight chances of North Ballarat Roosters a major blow with a hard-fought 19-point victory today.
The Seagulls came from nine points down at the final change to triumph 10.12 (72) to 8.5 (53) at a cold and windy Eureka Stadium.
The loss leaves the Roosters in 10th position on the Bailey Ladders' ladder, and needing to defeat Essendon next weekend to have any hope of a finals berth.
Three goals to Anthony Anastasio and three to Liam Jones were pivotal in the Seagulls’ win.
With a cross wind slightly favouring Williamstown in the final stanza, Jones stepped up to add his second and third goals and lead his side to an important win.
Youngster Jackson Macrae amassed 30 disposals, continually wheeling on his lethal left foot and driving the Seagulls forward. He was well supported by captain Ben Jolley (23 disposals) and Willy Wheeler (22), while Cameron Wood dominated in the ruck with 58 hit-outs.
Earlier the Roosters appeared to have wrestled control of the match with a handy 17-point break mid-way through the third term.
Liam Anthony (24 disposals) and Myles Sewell (24) had been a tower of strength in the first half and when Anthony added his second goal, and captain Micahel Searl followed with another minutes later, the signs were ominous.
But the Seagulls’ third goal from a 50m penalty, and a mistake from Oliver Tate on the final line of defence, allowed the Seagulls to creep within two straight kicks at three quarter time.
Tate (20 possessions) was arguably the Roosters’ best with his run and composure off half back but will be left to rue the moment he failed to rush a behind in third term.
Anastasio pounced as good small forwards do and the Roosters were suddenly ripe for the picking.
Cameron Lockwood was moved on to Anthony and his influence diminished, while Lukas Markovic ensured the Seagulls were able to withstand every foray forward by the Roosters in the final term.
The Roosters can still sneak into the top eight with the clash with the Bombers next week likely to decide eighth spot.
Coburg no match for Hawks
Box Hill Hawks has hit top form on the eve of the finals with a commanding 86-point thrashing of Coburg.
Five goals from Jed Anderson and three each from Sam Iles and Marc Lock catapulted the Hawks to a 20.14 134 to 5.18 48 victory.
With the wind at their backs, the Hawks surged to a 36-point lead at quarter time, with Anderson and Lock doing the damage.
Coburg’s inaccuracy, which included one goal and seven behinds in the second term saw the half time margin pushed out to 47 points.
With Kyle Cheney in control down back, the Hawks weren’t about to take the foot off the pedal and proved why their considered a genuine premiership threat with a powerful second half.
Coburg’s day was made much worse when promising forward Liam McBean was helped from the field with what appeared a serious leg injury.
Ben Griffiths bagged two goals for the losers, while Nathan Thomas, Robin Nahas and Matt Dea never stopped trying.
Box Hill confronts Casey Scorpions next weeked in what could be a preview of the first qualifying final a week later.
Coburg will be looking to finish its season on a high when they take on a Port Melbourne side desperate to sow up a top eight spot.
Tigers thrash Blues
Werribee has shrugged off any doubts about its finals credentials with a 48-point demolition of the Northern Blues.
The Tigers slammed on eight goals to none in a dominant third term to all but end the contest and cement their place in the top eight.
While the Blues rallied with seven of their own in the final quarter, the damage had already been done.
The loss leaves the Blues outside the top eight on percentage and needing a victory against an inform Williamstown next weekend to reclaim a finals berth.
The Tigers’ wealth of forward options proved pivotal with Addam Maric, Ben Brown, Ben McKinley and Robbie Castello all booting three goals.
Jordan Gysberts ran riot through the midfield, collecting 17 first half disposals when the game was still up for grabs.
Daniel Currie was another to shine with his ruck work giving the likes of Gysberts an armchair ride.
Blues’ trio Rhys O’Keeffe (31 disposals and two goals), David Ellard (30) and Nick Duigan (three goals) did everything they could to arrest the Tigers’ momentum but were ultimately outnumbered.
While the Blues’ now sit ninth with their finals chances hanging by a thread, the Tigers can enter their encounter with Collingwood next weekend full of confidence.
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Last Modified on 18/08/2013 19:58